Powered by RND
PodcastsHistoryThe Guernsey Deportees

The Guernsey Deportees

Channel Islands Podcasts
The Guernsey Deportees
Latest episode

Available Episodes

5 of 12
  • Bonus: Highlights from the Guernsey Literary Festival
    ⚡ At a sold-out talk at the Guernsey Literary Festival, Jill and Ollie were interviewed by the BBC’s Steph Watkins about the podcast. Among the stories you may have heard through the series, a few new tales emerged.💡 In this bonus episode of the podcast hear a special cut of our Literary Festival talk, featuring gardening in Biberach, a powerful moment told from Jill’s perspective, a call to action for everyone listening - and surprising camp stories from the audience.⚙️ With special thanks to:➡︎ Jill Chubb, Chair of the Guernsey Deportees Association➡︎ Steph Watkins, BBC Radio Guernsey📍 Your host is Ollie Guillou. This is a Channel Islands Podcasts production.✉️ Share your messages and memories; email [email protected]
    --------  
    14:33
  • Ep 3: Arriving in Biberach: First Impressions
    ⚡ Once the Guernsey Deportees finally left Dorsten, they arrived in Biberach in the freezing cold, greeted by Hitler Youth who spat at them as they trudged up the long hill to their barracks. It was here they would spend the next three years of their lives - longing to go home.💡 In 1942, during World War 2, Hitler ordered the deportation of more than 1000 islanders from Guernsey. Jill Chubb was just 3 years old when she set sail, but her memories are vivid and clear. And in this special podcast series, her grandson, former BBC Guernsey presenter Ollie Guillou, charts her story - joined by three other deportees and two prominent historians.🔎 This third episode explores the first impressions of camp life - the terror and the longing to be free. We find out about day-to-day life - how the camp had a library, a school and even a theatrical group. And we discover a little red book that has survived all these years - serving as a reminder of what happened. ⚙️ With special thanks to:Jill Chubb, Chair of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationRalph Godwin, DeporteeJanet de Santos, DeporteeJill Oliver, DeporteeAlan Chubb, Secretary of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationDr Gilly Carr, University of CambridgeMatthew Lucas, War historian📍 Written and produced by ⁠Ollie Guillou⁠ and ⁠Phillippa Guillou⁠. This is a ⁠Channel Islands Podcasts⁠ production.✉️ Share your messages and memories; email [email protected]
    --------  
    19:50
  • Ep 2: The Dark and Dirty Journey To Biberach
    ⚡ The journey to Biberach interment camp wasn’t straightforward. After being whisked away from their homes on a cargo boat, the Guernsey Deportees made a stop-off at a transit camp in Dorsten - a vile, filthy place, where men were left to cook hedgehogs to survive.💡 In 1942, during World War 2, Hitler ordered the deportation of more than 1000 islanders from Guernsey. Jill Chubb was just 3 years old when she set sail, but her memories are vivid and clear. And in this special podcast series, her grandson, former BBC Guernsey presenter Ollie Guillou, charts her story - joined by three other deportees and two prominent historians.🔎 This second episode explores the Deportees’ memories of Dorsten - a camp they were never meant to visit. Hear how this horrendous camp has left a lasting impression in their minds, even after spending just a short amount of time there. And discover the stories behind some of the art created in the camp, under the most oppressive conditions.⚙️ With special thanks to:Jill Chubb, Chair of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationRalph Godwin, DeporteeJanet de Santos, DeporteeJill Oliver, DeporteeAlan Chubb, Secretary of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationDr Gilly Carr, University of CambridgeMatthew Lucas, War historian📍 Written and produced by ⁠Ollie Guillou⁠ and ⁠Phillippa Guillou⁠. This is a ⁠Channel Islands Podcasts⁠ production.✉️ Share your messages and memories; email [email protected]
    --------  
    19:01
  • Ep 1: The Deportation Order: Hitler’s Retaliation
    ⚡ In 1942, during the height of World War 2, Hitler ordered the deportation of more than a thousand islanders from Guernsey. In retaliation against the Allied Forces, innocent men, women and children were forced to leave their island homes - set on a path to Biberach internment camp.💡 Jill Chubb was just 3 years old when she set sail, but her memories are vivid and clear. And in this special podcast series, her grandson, former BBC Guernsey presenter Ollie Guillou, charts her story - joined by three other deportees and two prominent historians.🔎 This first episode explores the moments leading up to the deportation, and how the Guernsey Deportees found out the news. We get a sense of pre-war life in Guernsey and how it began to change during the course of the war. And from cargo ships to train rides, we learn how the journey to Biberach began.⚙️ With special thanks to:Jill Chubb, Chair of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationRalph Godwin, DeporteeJanet de Santos, DeporteeJill Oliver, DeporteeAlan Chubb, Secretary of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationDr Gilly Carr, University of CambridgeMatthew Lucas, War historian📍 Written and produced by Ollie Guillou and Phillippa Guillou. This is a Channel Islands Podcasts production.✉️ Share your messages and memories; email [email protected]
    --------  
    24:30
  • Ep 4: Life and Hope in Biberach
    ⚡ The Guernsey Deportees never lost their resilient spirits through all of the years of internment. Though they were isolated and imprisoned, they still found joy, excitement and happiness in Biberach. Life may have been hard, but they made do.💡 In 1942, during World War 2, Hitler ordered the deportation of more than 1000 islanders from Guernsey. Jill Chubb was just 3 years old when she set sail, but her memories are vivid and clear. And in this special podcast series, her grandson, former BBC Guernsey presenter Ollie Guillou, charts her story - joined by three other deportees and two prominent historians.🔎 This fourth episode explores the ways the Deportees entertained themselves, whether by testing the patience of German soldiers, or watching aircraft zoom through the sky. We hear how they still celebrated Christmases - in the only way they could. We discover what it was like to fall seriously ill in the camp. And we hear the story of Bill Balcombe of Everest, who made wonderful mugs for his fellow internees.⚙️ With special thanks to:Jill Chubb, Chair of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationRalph Godwin, DeporteeJanet de Santos, DeporteeJill Oliver, DeporteeAlan Chubb, Secretary of the Guernsey Deportees AssociationDr Gilly Carr, University of CambridgeMatthew Lucas, War historian📍 Written and produced by ⁠Ollie Guillou⁠ and ⁠Phillippa Guillou⁠. This is a ⁠Channel Islands Podcasts⁠ production.✉️ Share your messages and memories; email [email protected]
    --------  
    19:31

More History podcasts

About The Guernsey Deportees

A little-known story of wartime resilience. Hear the stories of the last remaining Guernsey deportees. 80 years ago a group of Channel islanders were forced to abandon their homes during WW2, and were sent on Hitler’s orders to Biberach interment camp. Ollie Guillou speaks to his Grandma about the 3 long years she spent in the camp. He’s also joined by three other deportees and two historians, who help chart the life-altering journey these Guernsey people went on, all those years ago. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/collection/1395666
Podcast website

Listen to The Guernsey Deportees, The Rest Is History and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app

Get the free radio.net app

  • Stations and podcasts to bookmark
  • Stream via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
  • Supports Carplay & Android Auto
  • Many other app features
Social
v7.21.2 | © 2007-2025 radio.de GmbH
Generated: 7/26/2025 - 2:51:23 PM